Operatives of International Criminal Police Organisation, INTERPOL, at the Nigerian Police Force, Force CID, Alagbon Close, Lagos, southwest Nigeria, have arrested Tope Fagun, 39, for allegedly posing as Major General Emmanuel Abisoye (retd)., to obtain the sum of $50,000 from the Governor of Adamawa State, northeast Nigeria, Muritala Nyako under false pretence that he was admitted in a London hospital.
Also arrested with the fake army general was his accomplice identified as Rotimi Akinade, 29.
Tope Fagun, the fake Army General
The police prosecutor, DSP Raymond Odion Akhaine, told the court that the first accused, Tope Fagun, sometime in 2011 phoned the Governor of Adamawa State, Muritala Nyako, and introduced himself to him as Major General Emmanuel Abisoye (retd.), that he needed his help financially to offset his hospital bill at Queen Elizabeth Hospital London, where he was receiving treatment for undisclosed ailment, a claim he knew to be false.
He stated that believing that the caller was actually Major General Emmanuel Abisoye, the Governor sent the sum of $35,000 equivalent to N5m and $15,000 equivalent to N2.7m to the fake Major General.
Police investigation reveal that nemesis however caught up with the accused when he phoned and also identified himself as Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Abisoye to a national leader of Peoples Democratic Party of Nigeria to assist him with some money to offset his medical bill he incurred at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in London.
The PDP stalwart was said to have phoned Major General Emmanuel Abisoye to confirm the true state of his health.
Maj. Gen. Abisoye was said to have told the caller that he was hale and hearty and was never sick nor admitted in any hospital and as such could not have been demanding money to offset any hospital bill.
Following the development, Major General Abisoye reported the matter to the police which led to the arrest of the two accused after several months of manhunt.
During interrogation, Tope allegedly confessed to the crime that he has been defrauding prominent people in the society in the same manner along with his accomplice, Rotimi for long.
The offence, the prosecutor, said contravened section 409, 312(3), 285 and 378 of criminal laws of Lagos state, 2011.
The accused person pleaded not guilty to the charge and the magistrate admitted them to bail in the sum of N1 million with two sureties each in the like sum with proof of tax payment to the Lagos state government.
The magistrate adjourned the matter till 24 July, 2013 for mention.
The accused were, however, moved to Ikoyi Prisons, Lagos pending when they would fulfill their bail condition.
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Please set them free. They just want their own piece of the national cake. No crime comitted.
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